December 2009

December 17, 2009

When your first season in the majors is so impressive, it's hard to believe a player can fall so hard.

How can a player come apart so fast?

If you're down on Cole Hamels, you might ask Roy Halladay that.

In 2000 Halladay posted a 10+ ERA and soon after was sent to the minors to get his act together again.

Hamels rocketed to fame and adoration after helping- leading, really - the Phillies to a world championship in 2008. He was the MVP of the World Series and what followed was a whirlwind with an appearance on David Letterman (the gold standard of cool in my book) and big endorsements.

Fans called him an ace and expected 2009 to be more of the same.

They were wrong of course, but that's not so surprising. It's difficult to maintain that kind of excellence (consider his age) and every master of the game has had their darkest hour, their lowest point. The season they wish to forget or at least learn from in order to move on.

Hamels didn't get demoted to the farm, but Halladay did and who knew how it would end?

No one could've predicted the furious storm that would surround him in both 2008 and 2009, with teams trying to put together a sparkling enough package for the Blue Jays to win his services.

The Phillies were part of that storm in 2008 and now they've sealed the deal with a keen eye on the farm and the near future. They could not have it all.

While Hamels is not a seasoned vet, he's also not as young and inexperienced as pitcher Kyle Drabek who was part of the trade that made getting Halladay possible.

Drabek, a spirited and warm guy, spent most of 2009 with Double-A Reading, finishing the season 8-2 with a 3.64 ERA.

But Drabek didn't practically guarantee wins in 2010. The deal gives the Phillies assurance for the next three years that, if Halladay stays healthy, they could very well continue to securely hold onto the National League crown. And go deep in the playoffs.

The loss of Cliff Lee (he goes to the Mariners) in that equation means that Hamels will have to bounce back and the bullpen, though bolstered by Halladay's presence, needs to see a Brad Lidge revival. It also leaves questions open about the rest of the rotation.

Don't be mistaken, the Phillies didn't give up low-level prospects. There's no downplaying how tough Drabek's departure from the Phillies system is. The premiere prospect appeared primed to join the rotation in 2010, possibly as a number three or four. The Phillies were even careful enough in his development to end his season early in 2009. There were no physical problems reported. It was simple caution. He was that valuable.

And it's quite clear how valuable the Toronto Blue Jays think the 22 year old is as well.

The part that seems difficult to envision is: what might Kyle Drabek become?

Lee might not have returned after next year and so, the Phillies and their fans benefit for a few years to come as the Roy Halladay era begins.

The possibilities for Drabek are endless.

So are the possibilities for a Phillies team that just dusted off their Fall Classic cleats.

December 15, 2009

At 25, pitcher Matt Hirsh faced a harsh reality: the business of baseball can be brutal.

"Baseball is a business, and just like any business there are going to be people who lie to you," he said in an e-mail last week.

After being released from the Colorado Rockies, the minor leaguer felt he reached the end of the road. But he also felt there were things he wasn't given the straight story on. As hard as he worked, Hirsh believes he may not have been given a genuine opportunity to develop.

He began his career with the Astros, a 30th round pick in 2005.

"I started in the bullpen and struggled a little bit. They moved me to a starting role and I flourished."

He experienced a few rough moments at the end of the season, failing to get in more than three innings in his last two starts. Hirsh still felt confident.

"I felt I was developing pretty well," he said.

But he was sent straight to extended spring training the following year and was released a week before the draft.

"Needless to say, I don't think I was given a fair shot," Hirsh said. "I never really had an opportunity to play for the Astros."

In 2006 he was with the Cardinals. He knew he had something to prove.

"I had to earn my spot since I was a free agent," he said. "I only lasted two weeks at training camp before they released me."

The Cardinals told Hirsh that his velocity wasn't where they wanted it and he was forced to move on again. His time in the Rockies system began hopeful enough. They asked him whether he preferred to be a starter or reliever.

"I survived the first round of releases,' he said. "But fell victim on the last day of spring training to the final round of cuts."

The difficulties he had at times certainly played a part, but Hirsh also feels that the Astros and Cardinals could have communicated more honestly with him.

"I was told certain things that I believed to be true but in essence weren't," he said.
"One example I can give was from the Astros. I was told if I signed
I would get an equal opportunity to advance in the system. After my first season I had learned a lot and was excited to vie for a spot on a full season team the following year."

But Hirsh's excitement and willingness to learn were met with a decision that the Astros mailed in.

"I received a letter in the mail about a month before spring training
saying that I was to report straight to extended spring training.
Confused, I called the pitching coordinator and he told me that I could
attend regular spring training if I wanted to but had to pay for
everything [including] a hotel and food.

Hirsh was, however, given a reason.

"He told me there was too
many guys going out for full season teams, so that's why they sent me to
extended," he said.

There was a lot of confusion, perhaps. Maybe there were details the Astros didn't feel they could or needed to share with Hirsh. It's not clear what their intentions were, but he feels that the dishonesty went deep.

"Another lie I was told was earlier this year when I was trying to play
with the Long Beach Armada. I basically made the team out of spring
training but didn't really get to play," he said.

"I was told I wouldn't be going
on the first road trip of the year but that I would have a roster spot
when the team returned. After they returned I still didn't have a
roster spot before they left for the next road trip. I was led on like
this for about a month and a half before I finally got a shot, but
getting on the team was the toughest part and being lied to wasn't any
fun."

Baseball players learn early how to handle winning and losing and the art of quickly bouncing back. Maybe it's not an art at all, but rather a reflex that gets stronger as it's used year after year. Telling a player he stinks or why there's no place for him has to be tough work. But Hirsh insists that reflex would've withstood the pain of hearing the truth. It was hearing the truth that mattered most.

"I don't understand why teams have to lie when they release you. If I
get released I want to know why. I don't want a cookie cutter answer
that they tell everybody. That doesn't make me a better player."

He tips his cap to the Rockies for at least giving him the facts.

"They did tell me why I was released, but the Astros and Cardinals
skated around it and gave me the runaround," he said.

"The general reason is 'we
just don't have a spot for you' which is true, but not a good enough
answer in my book. The Astros actually told me that they didn't see me
as a prospect; after one season in rookie ball," he said.

"Apparently they can judge
prospect status based on one season in rookie ball. I don't buy it for a
second. But that's neither here nor there."

Surely his story is one that's played out many times, but the game is changing drastically and has been for the past few years. Steven Strasburg, the top draft pick in all of baseball in 2009, signed a $15.1 million dollar contract with the Nationals.

If you're playing for a small market team (or a team with little hope such as the Nats), maybe your chances are better. They might put the time into developing a guy with a lot of potential, knowing they don't have the means to compete for a top player.

But as Hirsh pointed out, it's business. Business gets complicated.

"I think money is a key driving factor in the development of a minor
leaguer. Sad as it is to say, the more money an organization gives you,
the faster you will move through the system," he said.

"It's not true for everyone
who gets a lot of money but I would say it happens for a majority of
them. If an organization doesn't have any money in you then you better
have a breakout season or consistently put up numbers to get seen."

Funny enough, Hirsh envisions himself possibly returning to baseball on the business side.

"Eventually, I would like to work for a big league team doing some kind
of marketing or possibly media relations. My options are still open at
this point but I think it's safe to say that I'd like to be working in
the sports industry in one form or another. Sports are a part of my
life and I'd like to stay in it as long as I possibly can," he said.

The reflex to bounce back is still there, so too is the feeling for a sport he's played all his life. The business couldn't kill that.

December 08, 2009

"I love the seasons", Marlins minor leaguer A.J. Battisto said at a local coffee shop on a particularly chilly and windy day.

He might be talking about Eastern weather, but he could easily be describing his outlook on 2009 as a reliever in the Marlins farm system.

No matter what, the 26 year old remained determined and positive, enjoying each step of what has been his most productive season in terms of opportunities. He began the season with Single A Jupiter, and then spent time with Double A Jacksonville before getting a shot at Triple A New Orleans. He pitched 8 innings at New Orleans before being sent back to Jacksonville. He finished the season with a 2.68 ERA in 168 innings pitched.

"I feel confident in myself, because I'm confident I can throw strikes," he said.

The Marlins continue to develop young talent, and wisely found a way to hold onto Josh Johnson. While they don't have the payroll to take chances, their determination to keep Johnson could indicate a development of their being in contention again. By keeping young talent in the pool, they can also strengthen their future.

Battisto showed his ability to move through the ranks and perform. He adjusted, though he said it wasn't easy. There are differences in facing Double A hitters and Triple A, a fact he learned quickly.

"Physically the guys in Double A, can play in the major leagues. Mentally...that's why they're in Double A," he said. "Triple A, they're older guys and some of them have been to the big leagues. Those guys will out-think you."

His faith has been the constant in his life and he brings that to the teams he plays for. When asked if being the religious guy on the team is sometimes unwelcome, he acknowledged that happens sometimes, but he always tries to reach out in a non-imposing manner.

"Sometimes I do it without [teammates] even knowing," he said. "There was a guy struggling with an injury and I left him a healing prayer at his locker. I didn't let him know it was me. I'm not the type to pressure."

His goal for 2010 is one that will require him to continue to exhibit his patience and faith, as well as his discipline.

"I want to get an invite to big league camp," he said. "And if not, I want to be assigned to Triple A."

December 03, 2009

But he's not if you're a grown man who watches golf from your living room.

In Webster's Dictionary (I have 4th edition, but I'll assume it's about the same) the definition of hero goes like this:

1, A person (usually a man, the book states) admired for courage, fortitude, nobility, etc..

By this definition, Tiger has fit the bill to a large extent. It takes tremendous fortitude to pursue excellence from very early childhood. It is noble to want to make your father, who is your greatest teacher and champion, proud. And I do believe it takes courage to be an outstanding athlete. You have to sacrifice a great deal of yourself and not wallow in failure. Not everyone would be cut out for the kind of path one has to follow to be an exceptional athlete, especially his path.

The second definition is one that applies to Tiger Woods as well:

2, The principal male character in a story, play or poem.

The public wrote the story they wanted to hear. They worshiped him for his athletic capabilities. And now, strangely, they are taking full advantage of tearing him down and delighting in it. They are asking why he's not the man they thought he was.

He never was.

That's not his story. We made it up in our own minds.

In the five years I've written for Junior Baseball Magazine, I've brought many Major League baseball players stories to young children and teens who love baseball or are thinking of pursuing it as a career. I ask them for their best tips on hitting, pitching, team work, overcoming injury, or I ask them when they knew they wanted to play baseball for a living or how they handled their worst career moment.

I don't ask them why they cheated on their wives and I don't ask them why they had that problem with the law at some point in their lives.

The kids who read Junior Baseball Magazine or Kids Sports Illustrated, that go to games and tournaments and training camp for their birthday, don't care about that.

Their mothers and fathers do, because they want to sell athletes as heroes to their kids.

In different generations, the media was not privy to every detail of athletes lives. And if they were, those details were more easily kept secret. And with kids having ESPN and the NFL Network they are constantly fed information and images of their favorite athletes. The game is not where it ends. They are saturated with their favorite athlete's every move. If he's dating a Hollywood actress, he'll be in US magazine and People as well. If he's involved in a charity, he must be a man with such clean character that he's incapable of personal mistakes.

To be fair, parents can't make their kids not worship athletes. It's impossible. Kids love sports and they put posters on their walls of the basketball or football star they want to grow to be.

But your kids need them to make the play, the dunk, the catch. Not make it home faithfully for dinner with his wife and kids.

Children can be taught to find inspiration in athletes for their determination, perseverance and work ethic. There are countless inspirational sports stories: Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Arthur Ashe and Lance Armstrong, have all in some way inspired true admiration for overcoming more than a contest.

But what they gave you first, was a reason to cheer on the sidelines or sofa. They're are heroes everywhere for your kids to admire. But they start with athletes. They don't know any better.

Adults do.

Don't take Tiger Woods away from your kids- and don't stop admiring him as an athlete- just because the story you wanted to believe turned out to be a fairytale.